Home / Quotes / Quote by Plato

Quote by Plato

“... Societies aren t made of sticks and stones, but of men whose individual characters, by turning the scale one way or another, determine the direction of the whole.”

Quote by Plato

Book:The Republic

Work

In 'The Republic,' Plato presents a dialogue between Socrates, Glaucon, and other philosophers, discussing the nature of justice, the structure of an ideal society, and the role of philosophers as rulers. The work is divided into ten books and delves into various philosophical topics, including the nature of the soul, the nature of justice, and the nature of the state. more

Author

Plato (428 BC - 348 BC) was a prominent Greek philosopher, one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy. He founded the Academy, which was the first institution of higher education in the Western world. Plato's philosophy, centered around the theory of Forms, emphasized the importance of reason and morality. more

You May Also Like

“In speaking of the capitalists who strive only for profit, only to get rich, I do not want to say that these are the most worthless people capable of doing nothing else. Many of them undoubtedly possess great organising talent, which I would not dream of denying. We Soviet people learn a lot from the capitalists. But if you mean people who are prepared to reconstruct the world, of course you will not be able to find them in the ranks of those who faithfully serve the cause of profit. ..The capitalist is riveted in profit and nothing can tear him away from it.”

People Ifs World Want Mean Dream Able Political Courses Causes Rich Talent Tears Capable Prepared Strive Profit Soviet Capitalist Worthless Doing Nothing Get Rich Mean People

Author:Joseph Stalin

“There is not, nor should there be, an irreconcilable contrast between the individual and the collective, between the interests of an individual person and the interests of the collective.”

Should Persons Political Individual Interest Collectives Contrast

Book:1934-1940

Source: 1934-1940

“How could politics be a science, if laws and forms of government had not a uniform influence upon society? Where would be the foundation of morals, if particular characters had no certain or determinate power to produce particular sentiments, and if these sentiments had no constant operation on actions?”

Source: Essays Moral, Political, and Literary

“It seems then, say I, that you leave politics entirely out of the question, and never suppose, that a wise magistrate can justly be jealous of certain tenets of philosophy, such as those of Epicurus, which, denying a divine existence, and consequently a providence and a future state, seem to loosen, in a great measure, the ties of morality, and may be supposed, for that reason, pernicious to the peace of civil society.”

Source: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: A Critical Edition

“In ancient times, bodily strength and dexterity, being of greater use and importance in war, was also much more esteemed and valued, than at present. ... In short, the different ranks of men are, in a great measure, regulated by riches.”

Men Different War Use Political Greater Importance Ancient Riches Ancient Times Dexterity

Author:David Hume

“A man who has cured himself of all ridiculous prepossessions, and is fully, sincerely, and steadily convinced, from experience as well as philosophy, that the difference of fortune makes less difference in happiness than is vulgarly imagined; such a one does not measure out degrees of esteem according to the rent-rolls of his acquaintance. ... his internal sentiments are more regulated by the personal characters of men, than by the accidental and capricious favors of fortune.”

“Ever since men became capable of free speculation, their actions, in innumerable important respects, have depended upon their theories as to the world and human life, as to what is good and what is evil. This is true in the present day as at any former time. To understand an age or a nation, we must understand its philosophy, and to understand its philosophy we must ourselves be in some degree philosophers. There is here a reciprocal causation: the circumstances of men s lives do much to determine their philosophy, but, conversely, their philosophy does much to determine their circumstances.”

“Modern definitions of truth, such as those as pragmatism and instrumentalism, which are practical rather than contemplative, are inspired by industrialisation as opposed to aristocracy.”

Political Modern Inspired Definitions Practicals Aristocracy Contemplative Pragmatism

Author:Bertrand Russell

“Yes, a dictator can be loved. Provided that the masses fear him at the same time. The crowd love strong men. The crowd is like a woman.”

Men Political Strong Mass Crowds Dictator Strong Man Strong Love

Author:Benito Mussolini

“We should be similarly wary of accepting common opinions; we should judge them by the ways of reason not by popular vote.”

Way Should Reason Political Common Accepting Opinion Judging Vote Popular Vote

Book:The Essays of Michel de Montaigne

Source: The Essays of Michel de Montaigne